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Chris and Fred have been whittling down the tremendous backlog of FSS reviews that has build up here at JBL over the past few months. Long since photographed and written, our two interpid reviews finally take a look at two DiC-era Joes: Scoop and Ambush. (Or, as Fred likes to refer to them: “Giraffe Boy & the Tangerine Dream“…)

They’re two Joes from the second-era of G.I. Joe animation that have been both been long overdue from an update. However, was it worth the wait? Do our intrepid reviews find this DiC duo to be worthwhile purchases? Does Deadpool rear his scarred head once more in another gratuitous cameo?

After FAR too long of a delay, Chris and I take a look at the fourth shipment of the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Figure Subscription service 5.0. This set of figures was sent to subscribers back in March and contained General Flagg and the classic 1987 deco of Sneak Peek. Unfortunately, that pesky “real life” got in the way for both of the reviewers and so these reviews were delayed until now. (I’ll be adding additional photos to Flagg over the weekend. Pesky day jobs really sucked away some quality “hobby time” during the past month.)

General Flagg (the younger one) is rocking his 1994 deco while Sneak Peek is back for his second GIJCC release in his classic original colors. This marks one more addition to the update rosters for both 1994 and 1987. Now only Fast Draw is missing from the original ’87 single carded G.I. Joe team members.

Were these two figures worth the wait? Are they a bargain at the FSS price? Do either of the reviewers acknowledge Deadpool’s conspicuous absence this month?

Two more G.I. Joe FSS 5 figures get the review treatment this week: Darklon & Salvo!

What is this? Could it be? Have the admins publisihed two MORE G.I. Joe FSS 5 reviews this week? You bet your sweet Evader it’s true!!! Fred and Chris are back with a look at the two latest figures to arrive from the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Figure Subscription Service: Darklon & Salvo!

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more mis-matched parir of characters from the latter half of the A Real American Hero run than these two. One is a distant cousin of Destro whose fashion sense could best be described as “thrift store chic as assembled in a darkened room.” The other is a towering anti-armor trooper whose basic philosophy on firepower is emblazoned on his hand-lettered t-shirt.

So what do our intrepid reviewers think of the G.I. Joe FSS 5 dynamic duo of Darklon and Salvo? Does Darklon improve upon the original 1989 design or is it another faithful club recreation? Does this second build of Salvo better satisfy the expectations of fans? (After all, the first Salvo build went over like 2016 Joe Con JUMP pack souvenir sets.) Heck, does Deadpool return after his glaring omission in the last two reviews?

Head on over to the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Review Index and check out what two long-time Joe fans think of both Darklon and Salvo!

It’s been a while since we’ve had any new reviews here at JBL. The holidays, a lost family pet, and some crazy workloads led to a crazy few weeks here at JBL HQ. However, we’re getting back on track and that means not one but TWO brand-new reviews from the G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Collection, year 3!

Check out what Fred and Chris have to say about the four figures from the Heavy Conflict and the Mission Accepted two-packs! It’s a brand new take on Heavy Duty and Duke and the debut of Fan’s Choice figure Stiletto and Tombstone!

There’s some good. There’s some bad. There’s a few rants by Chris and some snark from Fred. There may even be a Deadpool cameo or three. However, there’s something that almost everyone can find to love in both the Heavy Conflict and the Mission Accepted two-packs. After all, what’s not to love about the return of two familiar faces as well as the debut of two brand-new characters? Well… if I told you then you wouldn’t have to read the reviews! (Unless you just want to look at the pretty pictures. That’s okay too. Really. This way you don’t have to deal with another “Chris rant.”)

Our server migration is finally complete and almost everything seems to be working on the back end. (FINALLY!) As such, it’s time to get back to business around here when it comes to reviews! For the new crop of 50th Anniversary product I’ll be tackling some of the reissue sets solo. Chris and I will team up for the new release figure sets.

Case-in-point: the Zombie Patrol two-pack!

This set was initially released during my self-imposed hiatus from the online community. (I pretty much took off the time arom Rise of Cobra through Retaliation.) The Zombie Viper was part of the 30th Anniversary line which weaved the notion of the mysterious Compound Z throughout several waves. The figures proved to be a hit with fans but were challenging to find at retail and now command some solid prices on the secondary market. Thankfully, Hasbro listened to the fans and the Zombie Patrol two-pack was released in November at Toys R Us and BigBadToyStore.com.

Is this set worth all of the hype? Are the Zombie Vipers all that they’re cracked up to be? Didn’t people get enough of them the first time around?

You’d never know it by looking at the front page but it’s actually been a busy few weeks here at JBL. There’s been a lot of behind-the-scenes work as JBL migrated from our existing (and failing) server to a brand new virtual location. Now it’s time to get back to work and that means add more new reviews to the site!

The order of publication is still up in the air but it’s about time that we got back on track here at JBL. No excuses… while this is a hobby site and not a full-time job, it’s about time that the admin got off his butt and got back to work.

Do you have a preference on the order? Are you more excited about Powerglide than Tiger Force Big Brawler? Does Flying Scorpion rate higher on your priority list than another Zartan release? Let JBL know in the comments below or over on the JBL Facebook page.

NOTE: All images are Photoshop representations, final product, accessories and/or colors may vary!

It’s a foregone conclusion when the Club releases a sub-team version of a new character that the standard release will follow before too long. Case in point: Tiger Force Sneak Peek is now returning as standard version Sneak Peek. However, rather than a straight repaint, the Club opted to make some changes. The figure’s web gear has been changed and, to my eyes, it’s actually less of a match for the original 1987 design than the vest used in the recent Tiger Force release. I’m not entirely certain what the reason was for the change but it is what it is. (It looks a bit short in the picture.) Otherwise, it’s a decent update albeit one that once again reuses the 25th Anniversary Airborne head. #Twinning indeed!

Just last week subscribers in this wave of the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Figure Subscription Service received the final figures in the series. Tiger Force Outback and Tiger Force Sneak Peek, based on the 1990 European exclusive figures, arrived along with the mysterious “13th bonus figure.” Initially, fans speculated that this figure was going to be Tiger Force Jinx.

The internet speculation was wrong! Instead, fans were treated to an ARAH generation 3 update to Carla “Doc” Greer!

Fred and Chris take on the task of reviewing Tiger Force Outback, Tiger Force Sneak Peek, and Carla “Doc” Greer. As always, our two intrepid reviewer take a look what’s good and would could be improved with these latest Club releases. Were these figures worth the wait? Does Fred finally agree that Tiger Force isn’t so bad? Will Chris like any of these G.I. Joe Collector’s Club figures? Does Deadpool make another cameo?

Seriously, I can scarely believe that I’m typing the words “Pythona review.” Since her debut in G.I. Joe: The Movie nearly 30 years ago, this deadly emissary/assassin from the mysterious kindgom of Cobra-La has been on the top of G.I. Joe fans’ wishlists. Thanks to the folks at the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club, this long sought-after femme fatale is finally making her way into the displays of Joe fans everywhere as the 2016 membership renewal figure.

Was she worth the wait? Did the Club deliver the good this time around? Does Deadpool make yet another gratuitous cameo? Do Fred and Chris finally completely agree on a figure? Will I ever stop asking questions and get to the Pythona review?

Of all of the shipments in G.I. Joe FSS 4, this one was the most anticipated for many subscribers. With the first ever figure of Cobra Commander’s son Billy and the long-awaited debut of the Cobra Interrogator in generation 3 form, there was little in the roster that could top it. Finally, after weeks of waiting, the figures have dropped!

Did they live up to decades of anticipation? Was Billy Arboc worth the wait? Did the Cobra Interrogator live up to the hype. Do Chris and Fred agree on anything in these reviews? More importantly, does Deadpool make yet another in a series of gratuitous cameo appearances?